Bucki



A. L'AURAIN May 14, 1935.

BUCKLE Filed March 16, 1934 ALFRED LAURAIN Patented May 14, I935 'VUNITED STATES BUCKLE Alfred Laurain, Paris, France, ass'ignor to Socit du Caoutchouc Manufacture, Paris, France Application March 16, 1934, Serial No. 715,970

. In France March 27, 1933 10 Claims..

This invention relates to buckles and has for its primary object to provide a simple and compact buckle particularly designed for use on garment suspenders, garters, waist belts, etc., al-

5. though also utilizable upon valises, trunks or more generally wherever it is desirable to clamp together several straps while keeping the possibility of readily adjusting them with respect to one another for instance to vary the useful length of a strap loop.

A further object of the invention is to provide a buckle having no undue thickness and which can be easily adjusted along the straps in both directions without injuring them even if such straps have a rough or ribbed surface such as is frequently the case for elastic webbings used on trouser suspenders, braces or garters.

' A still further object of the invention is to provide a buckle which will not bite into the straps and will nevertheless firmly clamp them in the-selected position of adjustment so as to prevent'any undue displacement of said straps even under heavy tractional stresses such as the ones'to which suspender straps or. webbin'gs are exposed.

With these and such other objects in viewv as will incidentally appear hereafter, the invention comprises the novel features of construction and combinations of parts that will now be hereafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying diagrammatic drawing are shown by way of constructional examples preferred embodiments of the invention.

Figure l is a perspective View showing the front face of the buckle, assuming thev pivotalflap being rocked down. I

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, assuming the pivotal flap being rocked up, the anti-friction cross strip being clearly shown.

Figure 3 is a perspective view showing. the rear face of the buckle.

Figure 4 is an edge view of they buckle shown in Figures 1 to 3. I

Figure 5. is an edge View of a modification of the bucklatheanti-friction cross strip being pivotally supported between the sides of the buckle yoke.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the buckle shown in Figures 1 tor 4, showing the engagement of the two straps through the slots located on both sides: of the anti-frictioncross strip.

Figure 7 is an edge view of themodified buckle shown in Figure showing the engagement of two ribbed webbings through the slots located on both sides of the anti-friction cross strip journalled between the sides of the buckle yoke.

Like reference numerals and characters designate like parts throughout theseveral views. 5

l, 2 designate the parallel sides of a yoke forming the body of the buckle. This yoke may be advantageously formed of a rigid material such as a metal, or alloy, preferably of stainless composition orsuitably coated for withstanding mois- 10 ture or sweat. The sides I, 2 are connected to each other adjacent one of their ends by a cross bar3 having an elongated slot 4 to receive a strap S Adjacent their opposite ends, the yoke sides I, 2 are connectedby a cross rod 5.

Intermediate their ends, the yoke sides I, 2 are furthermore; connected by a cross strip or tie 6 which defines on its opposite sides two contiguous co-planar slots 1, 8 extending substantially over the full width of the yoke. The upper slot 1 is defined between the cross strip 6 and the cross rod 5, while the lower slot 8 is defined between. the cross strip 6 and the cross bar 3.' 7

In the upper slot '1 is slidably engaged a strap S which can thus be slid under the cross rod 5. In 25 the lower slot 8 is slidably engaged the strap S As: this strap S is already engaged through the slotv 4 in the lower cross bar 3, it is firmly jammed due to its double bend and thus firmly held in the buckle. Thus this strap S may be the stationary free end of a suspender webbing. I

The cross strip or tie B is thus interposed flatly between the reaches of the straps S S located in the contiguous slots 7, 8 so-that it prevents any mutual contact of said straps at their adjacent positions. Moreover, the cross strip or tie 6 is made. of an anti-friction material, for instance of a polished metal or other smooth substance. As a result of this, the straps S S may be slid through their respective slots 7-, 8. without undergoing any substantial friction, which considerably facilitates their adjustment even if said straps are formed of a ribbed or corrugated webbing or fabric as it is frequently the case for highly elastic suspender webbings having a core of rubber 4 threads or strands and textile warp and weft threads so bound together as to form a ribbed covering on both sides of the core.

Inthe embodiment shown in Figures. 1 to 4, the anti-friction cross strip or tie 6' is integral with the sides I, 2 of the buckle yoke, the angular position: of said cross strip or tie being arranged for enabling the same to fulfill its purpose as above-stated.

In the embodiment shownin Figures 5 and 7,

the cross strip or tie 6' is constituted by a separate elongated strip or sheet of anti-friction or smooth material (for instance of celluloid or the like) having end trunnion-like projections 6" which are pivotally received in holes I, 2 formed tain amount of inherent resiliency or flexibility so as togive way or lend itself to a certain extent when either the strap S or the strap S is engaged through the slot 8 or the slot I preparatory to the use of the buckle or when the strap S is adjusted through the upper slot 1. This action takes place when for instance (assuming the straps S S being the webbings of a trouser or hose suspender) the webbing S is adjusted through the slot 1 while the webbing S isheld stationary in the buckle, for the purpose of regulating the useful length of said suspender.

Straddling the cross rod 5 is a V-shaped flap having unequal legs 9, l0 and end lugs ll, l2 each of which is rolled upon itself to form a journal which encompasses or circumscribes a portion of the cross rod 5. By this arrangement, the flap 9I0 can be rocked relative to the yoke about the cross rod 5. This flap 9-40 is shown in rocked down position in Figure 1 and in rocked up position in Figure 2.

When in rocked down position as shownin Figure 1, the V-shaped flap 9-40 covers theupper slot 1 and cross strip 6 so that its longer fore leg 9 clamps the strap S in said slot 1 while its shorter rear leg 10 assists in clamping said strap by engaging itsportion situated just to the rear of the yoke. The strap S is thus prevented from unduly sliding through the slot 1. In the event of a buckle for a garment-suspender, this clamping 'action of the flap 9l0 prevents any undue creeping motion of the buckle along the suspender webbing.

The angularity ofthelegs 9, ID of therockable flap of the buckle is such that its longer fore leg 9 cannot be rocked up into the position shown in'Figure '7 without overcoming a resistance due to the rubbing action of the shorter re-ar leg Ill which acts, as it were, as a cam against the strap S. This resistance locks theflap in rocked down position, so that no undue disengagement of the strap S by the flap is likely to take place.

It will be seen that the invention provides a simple, compact and rugged buckle for straps or webbings of every kind which is self-locking while being readily adjustable after having been manually unlocked by a very simple motion.

' What I claim is:--

-1. A buckle comprising ayoke, a flat anti-friction cross strip connecting the sides thereof and defining two contiguous co-planar slots for the respective engagement of two straps slidable through said yoke, said cross strip being intercalated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps located in the slots for preventing mutual contact of said strap reaches, and a flap pivotally connected at one end to the yoke sides, this flap freeing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular position and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

2. A buckle, comprising a yoke having parallel nected to the other end of the yoke, this flap free ing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular position and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

3. A buckle comprising a yoke having parallel sides connected at one end by a cross bar and at the other end by a rod, a smooth flat cross tie spanning the gap between said sides intermediate their ends and delineating two contiguous coplanar slots for the respective engagement of two straps slidable through said yoke, said cross tie being intercalated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps located in the slots for preventing mutual contact of said strap reaches, and a flap pivotally connected to said rod, this flap freeing the strap engagedthrough the slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular position and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

4. A buckle comprising a yoke, a flat anti-friction cross strip connecting the sides thereof and defining two contiguousco-planar slots for the respective engagement of two rstraps slidable through said yoke, said cross strip being inter-p calated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps located in the slots for preventing mutual contact of said strapreaches, and a .V-shaped flap pivotally connected to the yoke sides at one end of theyoke and having unequal legsythis flap freeing the strap engaged through'the'slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular position and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position. i I

5. A buckle comprising a rigid yoke, a flexible anti-friction flat cross strip connecting the. sides thereof and defining two contiguous co-planar slots for the respective engagement of two straps slidable through'said yoke, said cross strip being soangularly disposed relative to said sides as to be intercalated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps located in the slots for. pre venting mutual contact of said strap reaches, and a V-shaped flap pivotally connected to the yoke sides at one end. of the yoke, this flap. being so sized asto free the strapengaged' through the slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular po-, sition and clamping said strapin said slot'in another angular position.

i 6. A buckle comprising a yok'e'having parallel sides connected by a rod, 2. flat anti-friction cross strip connecting the yoke sides and defining two contiguous co-planar slots for the respective engagement of two strapsqslidable' through said yoke, said cross strip being intercalated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps'located in the slots for preventing mutual contact of said strap reaches, and a V-shaped flap having end journals circumscribing the yoke rod,

ing two contiguous co-planar slots for the respective flat engagement of two straps slidable through said yoke, said cross strip being disposed to prevent contact between the parts of said straps located in the slots, and a flap pivotally connected to the yokesides at one end of the yoke, this flap freeing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent its pivotal connection in one angular position relative to the yoke and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

8. A buckle comprising a rigid yoke having parallel sides, a smooth anti-friction cross strip having end trunnions engaged in holes in said sides, said cross strip defining two contiguous coplanar slots for the respective flat engagement of two straps slidable through said yoke, said cross strip being sized and disposed to prevent contact between the parts of said straps located in the slots, and a V-shaped flap whose apex is pivotally supported between the yoke sides at one end of the yoke, this flap freeing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent its apex. in one angular position relative to the yoke and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

9. A buckle comprising a yoke having parallel sides connected at one end by a slotted cross bar and at the opposite end by a cross rod, a smooth anti-friction flat cross strip connecting the yoke sides intermediate their ends and defining two contiguous co-planar slots between said strip and said rod and bar respectively, said contiguous reaches, and .a V-shaped flap having end journals circumscribing the cross rod, this flap freeing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent the rod in one angular position and clamping said strap in said slot in another angular position.

10. A buckle comprising a yoke having parallel sides connected at one end by a cross bar slotted to receive a strap and at the opposite end by a crOss rod, an anti-friction flat cross strip connecting the yoke sides intermediate their ends and defining two contiguous co-planar slots between said strip and said rod and bar respectively, said contiguous slots being respectively intended to slidably receive two straps such as suspender webbings, one of these straps being received in the cross bar slot, said cross strip being intercalated flatly between the contiguous reaches of the straps located in the slots for preventing mutual contact with said strap reaches, and a V-shaped flap having end journals circumscribing the cross rod, the legs of this flap being of unequal length and disposed for freeing the strap engaged through the slot adjacent the cross rod in one angular position relative to the yoke, while said legs clamp said last-named strap in the last-named slot in another angular position.

ALFRED LAURAIN. 

